Nancy in the center, Joni and Kathy
In the frantic period when I was gathering investors to provide capital for “The Usual Suspects,” preparing to leave government and beginning to gather a design and decoration team for Rick’s Café, it was a rare weekend when I had the luxury of taking the train and enjoying my small riad in Marrakech. This particular weekend, in May of 2002, I ran into a woman who I’d met a few months earlier who’d been a member of a delegation from the Chicago-Casablanca Sister City Committee. She was with a group of friends and they invited me to join them for lunch. En route to La Maison Arabe I took them in to Mustapha Blaoui’s “den” of treasures. They were all quite taken with the quantity and variety of all the lanterns, baskets, carpets, furniture and other artisanal items, but most said they’d come back after lunch.Only one quickly sized up a lovely basket, negotiated the price and had paid for it before anyone noticed…this was my first introduction to Nancy Reynolds – someone who has a keen eye, wastes no time and doesn’t impose on others!
|
|
 At lunch I loved listening to Nancy’s stories of her life working in the Reagan administration, later in public relations in Washington and her many adventures traveling the world, with a special love of Kenya. She was excited to hear all about my Rick’s Café project, but I was still surprised when I received an e-mail from her when she was back home in Santa Fe asking if I was still open for investors. Of course I was, and she certainly fit the “Suspect” profile. Nancy came back to Morocco for New Years with two friends, and one of her chief objectives was to buck up my spirits. She came bearing gifts – taco seasoning and corn meal from Santa Fe, a unique shopping bag that looks like a briefcase, Stephen Bogart’s autobiography and a small hand-held tape recorder for me to “tell my story.” The house was bought and empty, and that New Years Eve I rented some period furniture, invited more friends, cooked up a batch of tamale pie and Nancy contributed 10 bottles of champagne as we welcomed in 2003 to Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Seranade” from a one-disk boom box. Since then Nancy has continued to be a great support, sending friends and groups while booking the restaurant for June 20, 2007 for her 80th birthday party. To my delight Nancy came back to Casablanca recently en route to South Africa and visited Rick’s for the first time since our opening. I spent a lovely two days with Nancy and her friend Joni Lawler, who at one time had a restaurant on Capitol Hill in Washington. Whenever I would launch into a restaurant anecdote, Joni’s eyes would glaze over as she recounted similar memories. Nancy loved Rick’s and we’re all excited about helping her celebrate her 80th in a year’s time. |
|
